Social determinants of health reflect the social factors and physical conditions of the environment in which people are born, live, learn, play, work, and age. Also known as social and physical determinants of health, they
impact a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes
.
How does health affect the community?
“Community health impacts everything—
educational achievement, safety and crime, people’s ability to work and be financially healthy, life expectancy, happiness and more
,” Bognanno says.
What are the determinants of health in the community?
Health is influenced by many factors, which may generally be organized into five broad categories known as determinants of health:
genetics, behavior, environmental and physical influences, medical care and social factors
.
What are the 4 major factors that affect the health of a community?
- the social and economic environment,
- the physical environment, and.
- the person’s individual characteristics and behaviours.
Differences in health status or access to health care among racial, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic groups
may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes or diabetes complications.
What are the following determinants of unhealthy community?
Exposure to crime, violence, and social disorder
, such as the presence of trash. Social support and social interactions. Exposure to mass media and emerging technologies, such as the Internet or cell phones. Socioeconomic conditions, such as concentrated poverty.
The ability to assess a patient’s social determinants of health is
one of the best ways to predict the chance of developing conditions like asthma, COPD, and diabetes, as well as determine the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cancer
.
Housing,
social services
, geographical location, and education are some of the most common social determinants of health. These factors have a significant impact on the current healthcare landscape. As more healthcare organizations deliver value-based healthcare, they are developing strategies to drive wellness care.
What factors influence a community?
They are broken into four categories:
human elements, social factors, environment and geography, and resources
. Each factor discussed in the article is only a factor that may possibly be present in a community that can contribute towards community development.
Why is a healthy community important?
Working at the community level to promote healthy living
brings the greatest health benefits to the greatest number of people
. It also helps to reduce health gaps caused by differences in income, education, race and ethnicity, location and other factors that can affect health.
Human health and wellbeing are closely interlinked with the nature and quality of natural and built environments
while socio-economic and cultural factors have a strong influence on disease burdens as well as on perceptions of and responses to health risks.
Social and economic factors, such as
income, education, employment, community safety, and social supports
can significantly affect how well and how long we live. These factors affect our ability to make healthy choices, afford medical care and housing, manage stress, and more.
Why are determinants of health important?
They include factors like socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, and social support networks, as well as access to health care (Figure 1). Addressing social determinants of health is important for
improving health and reducing health disparities
.
How does type 2 diabetes affect the community?
Diabetes
imposes a substantial economic burden on society and is one of the costliest chronic diseases
, accounting for $245 billion in economic costs in 2012 alone for diagnosed cases, including $176 billion in direct medical costs and $69 billion in reduced productivity.
The Influence of Social Determinants on Type 2 Diabetes
Social determinants of health encompass factors such as
income, education, housing, and access to nutritious food
. Lifestyle factors incorporate dietary choices, physical activity levels, and access to primary health care services.
Income, education, and occupation show a graded association with diabetes prevalence and complications across all levels of SES, up to the very top
. Those lower on the SES ladder are more likely to develop T2DM, experience more complications, and die sooner than those higher up on the SES ladder (46,47).
What are the impacts of living in a healthy school and community?
Research confirms that students do better in school when they are emotionally and physically healthy. They
miss fewer classes, are less likely to engage in risky or antisocial behavior, concentrate more, and achieve higher test scores
.
What are the effects of living in a healthy school and community environment?
- Enhanced physical, mental and social health of the whole school community.
- Improved academic achievement for students.
- Decreased behavioural issues in classroom and schoolyard.
- Healthier positive attitudes.
- Enhanced student engagement.
- Better school attendance.
How do you maintain a healthy community?
- Work with the local civic groups to identify and eliminate eyesores, and beautify the local environment.
- Pick up a piece of litter every day.
- Keep a litter bag in your car or your recreational vehicle so you dispose of litter properly.
An understanding of social factors
provides invaluable insight into improving a patient’s health status for predicting negative outcomes
. Instances such as high-risk pregnancies, early hospital readmissions, poor compliance with prescribed medications, and susceptibility to chronic disease.
What are the cultural factors affecting health?
- Role of family (roles of members, hierarchy, key decision-maker)
- Role of community.
- Religion (impact on diet, beliefs about illness, treatment)
- Views on health and wellness.
- Views on death and dying.
The social determinants can impact health directly but also can indirectly impact health by
shaping how people behave
. Poverty, unemployment, and housing insecurity are all examples of social determinants that result in poor health outcomes.
